PA to get into MD

[Goobster20]

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In order to strengthen an academically weak application, many on here propose attending an SMP or taking additional undergraduate classes. However, I have not seen anyone suggest attending a PA program to bolster an application. Why not? Doing well in a PA program would prove that you could handle the academic workload, provide you with valuable clinical experience, and you end up with a nice job in healthcare should you never gain entry to medical school.

I don't mean to discredit the PA profession by using it as a stepping stone to a medical degree, but it just seems like this would be a viable approach. Any thoughts?

 

[kidkay]

What does SMP mean?😕

 

[sylvanthus]

In order to strengthen an academically weak application, many on here propose attending an SMP or taking additional undergraduate classes. However, I have not seen anyone suggest attending a PA program to bolster an application. Why not? Doing well in a PA program would prove that you could handle the academic workload, provide you with valuable clinical experience, and you end up with a nice job in healthcare should you never gain entry to medical school.

I don't mean to discredit the PA profession by using it as a stepping stone to a medical degree, but it just seems like this would be a viable approach. Any thoughts?

The problem with what you suggest is that oftentimes PA school is just as difficult to get into as medical school. If a persons application is subpar for medical school it is probably going to be subpar for PA school. Also, PA schools generally require real clinical experience. Not the average "volunteering in the ER." But, real hands on experience. Not many medical school applicants have this type of experience.

As a person who applied to both DO and PA schools, I had to jump through a bunch more hoops such as the GRE and a full year of anatomy and physiology, obtaining more letters of recommendation specific to PA school, and the dreaded CASPA application service.

So, I do not think it is a viable option unless it is a profession the applicant is seriously considering anyways, has the prereqs completed, and has significant patient care experience.

 

[Druggernaut]

PA programs are expensive, they take several years, and you take up space in the class that could've been used by someone to actually practice as a PA. Admissions aren't typically a cakewalk, either. There are PA schools with higher average accepted GPAs above that of some DO schools. It also does nothing to increase your undergraduate GPA.

For the second poster, SMP means special masters program. It's typically a one year masters degree taken by students who have good MCAT scores but subpar GPAs, and they may include classes taken alongside medical students. Doing well in one of these helps to indicate that a student is able to handle a rigorous academic workload, and some have linkages to medical schools for preferential admission. Doing poorly can be a killing blow to an applicant's hopes for medical school.

 

[J ROD]

In order to strengthen an academically weak application, many on here propose attending an SMP or taking additional undergraduate classes. However, I have not seen anyone suggest attending a PA program to bolster an application. Why not? Doing well in a PA program would prove that you could handle the academic workload, provide you with valuable clinical experience, and you end up with a nice job in healthcare should you never gain entry to medical school.

I don't mean to discredit the PA profession by using it as a stepping stone to a medical degree, but it just seems like this would be a viable approach. Any thoughts?

You will have to explain that "stepping stone". I would do an informal postbac first and SMPs are really expensive. You want to be a physician or the assistant?

 

[da Vincis World]

You would likely need to work as a PA for a while as well to show schools that you atleast gave the PA thing a try.

 

[womp]

You would likely need to work as a PA for a while as well to show schools that you atleast gave the PA thing a try.

Probably a good idea anyway since they can start immediately at $80k, pay off his debt.

 

[gman33]

PA school has different (and more) prereqs than med school.
In the time it takes just to get in, you could have already done a SMP or something similar.

Also, it's just a different path in general.
If you want to become a PA, that's one thing, but it's just not a good "stepping stone".

 

[Lokhtar]

And you may have to retake the pre-reqs and then the MCAT again at the end of it.

 

[efex101]

Horrible idea. I would pursue medicine if that is what you wish and do whatever it takes to make yourself appealing to adcoms OR pursue PA if that is what you wish. Do not consider one the stepping stone for the other.

 

[dudechiefboss]

Horrible idea. I would pursue medicine if that is what you wish and do whatever it takes to make yourself appealing to adcoms OR pursue PA if that is what you wish. Do not consider one the stepping stone for the other.

PA degree is considered a terminal degree, a very versatile terminal degree. I was in a PA program and was required to withdraw when I began my pursuit of medical school. A medical school adcom said that the first year of medical school is very difficult, and PA school is near similar difficultly as well. You will end up getting "burned out" if you decide to do a PA program and then go into medical school.

Pa school will not raise your undergrad gpa. While the program will give you higher level course, which apply to the medical field, you will have to re-learn the material the way medical schools want you to learn the material.

However, PA's do change their minds and end up applying/going into medical school. I would say the majority do NOT enter the program with the intent of applying to medical school in the future. Only a few were considering medical school as a possibility after several years of practicing as a PA in my class. Many of the students in my PA class had the grades and intellect for medical school, but wanted to pursue the PA degree - do to several factors.

In the end, if you want to show medical schools you would be a great student in their program, PA school is not the way to do it.

Either way, good luck with your pursuits 👍

 

[BennieBlanco]

Horrible idea. I would pursue medicine if that is what you wish and do whatever it takes to make yourself appealing to adcoms OR pursue PA if that is what you wish. Do not consider one the stepping stone for the other.

This is poor advice.

I've found that the best path towards becoming an MD is Piracy.

Pirates need a lot of the skills that MDs do, persuasion, negotiating, and being good with a blade to name a few.

Piracy --> MD easiest path